An evening celebrating the release of 2016’s Vino Novello at Cantina Frentana, midway between Lanciano and Fossacesia. As it turned out, our last festa of the year – and one of the very best. And last blog of the year too… Great setting. Terrific...

The Majella National Park forms a constant backdrop to our wraparound views. And with the first snows of Autumn forecast for the highest of the mountain peaks this weekend, it seemed a good idea to take advantage of one of the last truly glorious days of Summer and...

There was a food fair in the nearby village of Fara San Martino over the weekend notable not for its amiability, nor the excellence of the available food and drink, but for the rumour that had been spreading like wildfire that legendary American hip-hop group The...

We have an acre of Abruzzo hillside, facing due south without a shred of shade or cover. The soil’s heavy blue clay. Concrete in summer; boot-cloyingly claggy in winter. Most is just rough grass, kept in check with strimmer and mower. The rest is a...

Vegetable growing is something of a competitive sport round here – a summer diversion to fill the gap left by the absence of football. But not the ‘Biggest Pumpkin”; “Longest Bean”; or “Reddest Tomato” so beloved of village...